A controversial penalty incident 11 minutes from time gave the St Johnstone
supporters some pre-Christmas cheer in their clash against Kilmarmock.
Saints, with new signing Tommy Wright the perfect danger man, had the better
of the early second half exchanges after a lack-lustre first half.
But it was Kilmarnock who took the lead after 71 minutes. Goalkeeper Alan Main
appeared to have been impeded by ex-Saint Paul Wright as he went for a high
cross and Alistair Mitchell volleyed home the loose ball from close range.
Then came that penalty incident in 79 minutes. Second half substitute Leigh
Jenkinson drove the ball against Gary Holt's arm and the referee immediately
pointed to the spot.
Northern Ireland striker George O'Boyle took the kick and drove the ball high
into the roof of the net.
St Johnstone were fortunate to survive just afterwards. Main came to the Perth
club's rescue in the 81st minute when he stopped a fierce drive from Holt and
then got down well to smother a net-bound header from Mitchell.
There was further drama just on the 90 minute mark when Main kicked a Holt
header off the line.
New-signing Wright, formally of Leeds and Leicester, was unlucky early in the
second half going close with shots in the 47th and 52nd minutes.
O'Boyle and John O'Neil of St Johnstone and Kilmarnock's Wright were booked in
separate incidents.
Teams
St Johnstone: Main, McQuillan, Davidson (Wright 29),
Dasovic (Jenkinson 75), Kernaghan, Weir, Scott,
O'Neil (Grant 70), Kane, O'Boyle, Preston.
Booked: O'Neil, O'Boyle, Wright.
Goals: O'Boyle 79 pen.
Kilmarnock: Lekovic, MacPherson, Kerr, Lauchlan, Montgomerie,
Reilly, Nevin, Holt, Wright (Burke 86), Vareille (Roberts 83),
Mitchell.
Subs Not Used: Henry.
Goals: Mitchell 71.
Att: 4,385
Ref: G Alison (Dumfries).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook